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Shelley Phillips

Mary Louise Johnson

March 22nd, 1960 - December 15th, 2021

Memorial

Mementos

Mary Louise Johnson - March 22, 1960 to December 15, 2021 Mary L. Johnson, 61, of Montclair, NJ and Nantucket, MA passed unexpectedly in her sleep from heart complications on December 15, 2021. She was vigorous and active up until her untimely death. Her funeral service was held on December 18th. Mary was born on March 22, 1960 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. She moved to Dallas, Texas in sixth grade. She graduated from Southern Methodist University in Dallas in 1983 with a BS in Mechanical Engineering. She practiced engineering from 1984-1988 in the workplace, and for the rest of her life in the home. Mary wed Michael V. Johnson on April 9, 1983. They were joyously married for nearly 38 years. They lived in Dallas until 1989, when they moved to Montclair, NJ. She was a summer resident of Nantucket, Massachusetts for 25 years, where she exclaimed her delight for each and every beautiful sunset, saying "Go God." Mary was very active in her community and church. She was a natural caregiver who is well known for her passionate care of many friends and acquaintances. Mary was involved in giving her whole life. She participated in many charitable organizations, including as an Elder and Deacon of her Church, President of the Junior League of Montclair and a leader of Spiritual Heritage Nantucket. But her real charity was the gifted and tenacious help of any friend in need. Mary was a woman of profound faith; she sensed when people needed help, and helped them herself. From waking up at 5:00 am to drive a friend into the city for dozens of chemo treatments, to delivering a meal to someone with an upsetting family event, to fixing the boiler of a grieving family, she was simply there for people. She shrugged off any credit or thanks, always wishing she could do more. Her giving often went beyond what friends knew, such as the secretive providing of air-conditioning for her church, the secret payment of tuition for a family in need, the quiet payment of a medical bill. She felt a duty to give but also took genuine joy in providing. She taught us the meaning of love and charity. Mary was a wonderful mother and grandmother, setting an example of love, faith and care for many. She loved her children with a ferocious intensity. She cared for them even as they grew. She stayed involved in their lives and spoke to them daily. The phrase "we could not have done this without her" comes up again and again. She leaves behind a chasm of infinite depth - but also life lessons to all of her children to move ahead, and to support each other. Mary is survived by her husband and her five beautiful children and their spouses: Sarah and Zachary Watt, Matthew and Jacqueline Johnson, William Johnson, Michael Henry and Yazata Johnson, and Annie Johnson, as well as her three grandchildren: Samuel Watt, Oliver Johnson, and Nathaniel Watt. She is also survived by her mother, Sally Lutz, her sister Ann Jones, and her two brothers Bobby Lutz and Frederick Lutz.

Events

PAST EVENT

Funeral Service for Mary Louise Johnson

Dec 18th, 2021

2:00 PM - 1:00 PM

(GMT-4:00) Eastern Time (US and Canada)

PAST EVENT

Donations - Presbyterian Church of Upper Montclair

Dec 18th, 2021

4:00 PM - 12:00 PM

(GMT-4:00) Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Tributes

Share a favorite memory, send condolences, and honor Mary’s life with a heartfelt message.

Cyndi Mizzone

Thinking of all of you especially today…and always. Missing Mary and the enthusiasm and joy and sincere love that were… completely Mary. Shelley had encouraged me to share this months ago; it's an email I sent to Michael and it just sums up the impact Mary had on me. Tom and I are in disbelief after receiving the devastating news about Mary. Truly, we cannot wrap our brains around the idea that she is gone. Gone from us - but only for now - only because her "earthly tent" is no more. According to God's promises, we know she is living, REALLY LIVING (more so than we are!) where she has "a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens." What a promise to look forward to! While Mary and I haven't seen each other often in recent years, the impact she had on me and my life is tremendous. When I was 19, I started working as your nanny, alongside Mary as she needed someone who could physically lift the children and care for them since she was pregnant with William and had the potential to go into early labor. I initially saw it merely as a summer job and since I loved children, it seemed like a great fit. I had no idea what a life-changing blessing it would be for me; truly, it was a valuable (and enjoyable!) training ground for me - years before I had my own children. The way Mary loved and enjoyed, really enjoyed, her children - was something I noticed right away, and wanted myself someday for my own family. Mary had such an authentic and vibrant contentment mothering your little ones in those early years, that was contagious! While she laughed and loved and nurtured, she also taught me through example that she would not stand for any fresh or rude behavior, as I remember seeing Sarah, Matthew and William sit for the unpleasant but warranted "timeout" on the stairs. A practice I too, put into place with my own children! I could go on and on with memories I have - Mary delighting in surprising the children with a little gift she'd purchased for them, going to the Bradford pool on sticky hot summer days with little William's play yard in tow, Mary vacuuming up all of Juliette's hairs so I wouldn't sneeze, walking babies in strollers on Montclair Ave., enjoying Mary's yummy egg sandwiches, and a bowl of vanilla ice cream with that delicious caramel topping! There were so many things that made Mary special and unique which I noticed right away - her easygoing, relaxed nature, how she was often up for fun and the way she embraced life fully - but truly, it was her example as a mother that I will carry with me forever! She was one of the most selfless, loving, warm and compassionate people I have ever known. Her faithfulness in the little things every day, in being a consistent, loving and dependable mother for your children was paramount in my memory. Mary has influenced my own parenting in profound ways; to me she was the ideal mother! Know this - her blood flows in the veins of each of your precious children; they now carry and personify in various ways who Mary was - by being the people she poured her life into, who she trained, disciplined and loved. Now, her grandchildren and all future generations are blessed because of the legacy Mary leaves behind! I know how involved she was in the daily lives of each of your children, and now grandchildren. My heart breaks as I consider this and fully comprehend the tremendous void left behind. And yet, my hope and prayer for each of you is that you look forward to that day, when we will join her, for "our citizenship is in heaven"… where "He will wipe every tear from their (our) eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." This earth on which we walk, truly, is just a passing through - on our way to eternity, with the One who made us. For now, I am praying that each of you may experience a supernatural peace and comfort, as I cannot even imagine the pain that you are enduring. I love you guys, and I truly hope your kids will reach out and text/call if they ever need to: 201-572-4301. (Sarah, please don't hesitate to text/call as I know you have your hands full with little ones!) Love, Cyndi

Published December 15th, 2022

Ann Lutz Jones

Mary was my first roommate, we shared a bedroom, for at least a decade. We even, at times, drew that imaginary line down the center of our shared bedroom. I threw her stuff and she threw my stuff on our collective sides. We started our first prayer circle together at our tender ages..as if we knew everything depended on it. It did, as only sisters would know. She was my maid of honor at my wedding, as I hers. She was my first child's Godmother, as I hers. She was always there. I will miss our texts, and I know she is still there. Goodnight Mary, sleep well. I still have tasks to do. I"ll see you in the morning.

Published January 6th, 2022

Ann Lutz Jones

Our grandparents 50th wedding anniversary, not sure of the year. However, Mary is to the left of our grandmother (whom she is named for...Louise)

Published January 6th, 2022

Michael Houston

The Johnson family has been an integral part of my time at MKA. I have taught and/or advised Sarah, Matt, Will, MH, and Annie, and they all have come to mean so much to me, as has Michael and Mary. I often said that Mary and Michael must have an evil demon child hidden in the basement, because no family has that many kids who are all so wonderful. There has to be an outlier somewhere! And when Annie graduated, I told her to tell her mother to have another child because I couldn't imagine an MKA without a Johnson. This past summer she asked in passing if I was going to be able to travel, and I told her that my husband and I were going to France for a few weeks. Within minutes, she had upgraded our tickets without a moment's hesitation using her own points. For her it might have been a very small thing, for us it meant the world. I will miss her warmth, generosity, and humor, we all will miss her. Not a day goes by that I don't think of what Mary and the whole Johnson family mean to me. xxoo

Published February 2nd, 2022

Carolyn Quick

This sweet memory of Mary was taken when I was living in St Croix, VI and the family came to celebrate New Years and my birthday. I treasure this picture because she looks so happy and relaxed. We spent many wonderful vacations on Nantucket and in New Jersey too. She always made sure we got there and even surprised us with our one and only first class bump up. She worked behind the scenes to make sure everyone had the time of their lives.

Published January 6th, 2022

Todd Lutz

Mary's service was a wonderful tribute to her and glad we could view it and to hear firsthand the wonderful ways she has touched so many. My strongest memories of Mary are not so current but come from a much earlier time. Mary and her family would visit Grandma(Louise) and Grandpa(Del) Lutz in Cincinnati and that is where we, the Lutz Cousins, lived as well. We would visit together and debate endlessly on who had the accent (Oklahoma vs. Cincinnati), and who was saying "cool" or "wash" correctly and is it "Soda" or "Pop" and how can "Please" mean "What". Always a kind smile. Mary's recipe for glue is a true gift to be passed on. Thank you Will for sharing. The photo is from 1966 with all Lutz Cousins, Mary to the far right.

Published January 6th, 2022

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